A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

"Based on the last scout's findings, Chernobog moved to this rocky forest area five days ago... It seems those lowly people also know that facing a frontal offensive by an army group, victory is practically impossible. They're trying to play hide-and-seek with us..."

The Ursus commander, looking at the stone forest ahead, let out a disdainful sneer:

"But they forgot that such a massive mobile city, unless hidden inside a mountain, cannot be concealed at all. What can these boulders, at most a few meters high, possibly hide?"

"Moreover, the range of movement of mobile cities is greatly limited by the geographical environment. They can only move on open plains or gentle slopes, and cannot move freely in such dense stone forests."

"Apart from this wide main channel that our predecessors painstakingly opened up, it can't squeeze into any corner deep within the Stone Forest!"

"The idea is not bad, but unfortunately, it's a bunch of ignorant mobs who don't even understand the most basic limitations of mobile cities. They only realized their stupidity when they were driven to the brink. Not to mention how to use mobile cities for warfare."

"The Empire's steel torrent even includes its own mobile cities, which are also the best war fortresses... A bunch of self-important rabble, do they really think they can overthrow the Empire's rule?"

The commander-in-chief's words were full of insults and belittling towards the citizens of Chernobyl, as if he were venting some kind of displeasure.

"Have you said enough? When are we going to march?" Just as the commander was talking to his adjutants, a cold voice rang out from behind one of them.

The commander-in-chief shuddered. He turned around, a smirk on his face, and looked at the man standing behind him, radiating a chilling, dark aura. He said:

"My lord, aren't we waiting for news from the scouts we just sent out? This rocky forest is vast, stretching as far as the eye can see. We also need to wait for news to confirm whether the mobile city is located in this area."

"Didn't you just say that mobile cities can only follow this pioneering route? In that case, let's just charge forward," the man covered in black aura said coldly.

“But… the location of the mobile city is not a problem, but what if there are any ambushes in this area…” the commander coughed and said.

"What? You looked down on them so much, but now you're afraid?" The man's cold, sarcastic words made the commander momentarily embarrassed.

"Even if you can't see clearly, they still wiped out the border troops... Who knows what kind of capable people are hiding inside... Damn it, I was living a good life in the central region, but I was transferred here to deal with a riot. And to make matters worse, it's a tough nut to crack..."

The commander cursed inwardly, but dared not show the slightest displeasure on his face. After all, he was facing the Imperial Guard, who could decide life and death at will.

The guard seemed to have seen through the commander's inner turmoil, so he snorted and continued:

"Hmph, if there really is an ambush, the three of us are enough. Do you really think their swords and arrows can penetrate the territory of the 'Kingdom'?"

"Hmph, if there really is an ambush, the three of us are enough. Do you really think their swords and arrows can penetrate the territory of the 'Kingdom'?"

Hearing the almost absolute guarantee from the internal guards, the commander-in-chief finally felt relieved.

The commander-in-chief was overjoyed and said, "Good! Very good, sir! With your words, I am relieved! All troops, listen to my command! Advance immediately! May you protect our army, sir, and we will surely return in triumph!"

Finally, with a command from the commander, the massive Ursus army, like a black tide, began to surge into the silent and treacherous stone forest along the main channel.

The guard ignored the "noisy" command and retreated like a ghost, silently returning to his two colleagues.

"Finally willing to take action?" one of his colleagues asked.

"Hmph, a bunch of good-for-nothings. If the command of the Imperial Army Group is full of people like this, it would be a miracle if it didn't decline. No wonder such internal strife broke out." The returning guard said.

“Watch your emotions, Number 81,” another guard, whose voice sounded older, said. “Unstable emotions will only accelerate your self-destruction. You are still too young. Don’t let the ‘demon’ affect you.”

“It’s… number 21.” The bodyguard codenamed “81” tried his best to calm his uneasy emotions, and then said, “I just can’t stand their actions…”

“I understand your feelings, No. 81… In order to strengthen the power of the inner guard, His Majesty has indeed relaxed the selection criteria for willpower, no longer limiting it to pure patriotism and loyalty to the emperor.”

The number 21 guard slowly spoke:

"But you must be soberly aware that in these difficult times when the empire is beset by internal and external troubles, only His Majesty is the only guiding light to lead us out of this quagmire."

He paused, as if recalling some painful past events, and slowly continued:

"Unprovoked internal strife will only cause the entire nation to fall apart due to internal strife. Think of Gaul... its banners are no longer visible. Do you want to watch Ursus become a second Gaul?"

"The purpose of our Internal Security Force is to eliminate these unsettling factors... All internal strife and unrest stem from shortsightedness and impurity. Remember your mission as an Internal Security Force member."

After hearing what the No. 21 inner guard said, no matter how much resentment he felt, the No. 81 inner guard could only try his best to convince himself to accept it... just so that his beliefs would not completely collapse.

"Let's change the subject... What do you think of those two guards? Why are they so protective of Grand Duke Baikal? Since when have guards been able to cooperate with dukes?"

At this moment, the colleague who had spoken first broke the tense atmosphere and asked a question.

"The question raised by No. 34 is exactly what I was wondering about."

Inner guard number 81 immediately chimed in, looking at number 21, and continued:

"Those two seem to operate in a completely different way from us... Not only did they act on their own initiative, but they also tried to persuade us to join their camp and cooperate with Grand Prince Baikal. This is really... against the bottom line of the Internal Security."

“…I don’t know.” Guard No. 21 slowly shook his head, the shadow under his hood seeming even deeper, his tone filled with caution and deep thought. “Their rank…is even higher than mine. I have no way of knowing their true identities or past.”

He hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing his words:

"However... the inner guards who can inherit such an ancient number must have an unwavering will. At the very least, it can be guaranteed that their fundamental stance is still on the side of the Ursus Kingdom."

"As for the free will they exhibit... perhaps it is because they have been fighting against the evil within them for a longer period of time, making them more inclined to contribute to the country from their own unique perspective."

Number 21's voice carried an indescribable complexity as he finally said:

"But... it's also possible that their consciousness has become distorted and warped, leading to unexpected situations. This means they are not far from death."

"However, regardless of the circumstances, their all-out assistance to Duke Baikal must conceal deeper reasons or secrets that we are yet to discover..."

The number 21 defender made a preliminary conclusion, then changed the subject and added:

"Moreover, according to current intelligence, the real culprit who instigated the rebellion in Chernobyl has already been killed by the mob. What exactly happened in Chernobyl remains a mystery."

"In this light, it is not entirely impossible that the Duke of Baikal claimed to be an innocent victim."

Chapter 423 The Inner Guard's Doubts

The number 81 defender opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to question something, but ultimately swallowed his words.

He understood that if he delved any deeper, it might directly shake the very foundation of the beliefs upon which he relied to maintain his existence.

Once one's faith wavers, it will be the beginning of the complete backlash from the terrifying demon within one's body. That would mean not only death, but also turning oneself into a source of pollution, causing havoc within a radius of hundreds of miles.

“However, there are indeed many suspicious points in their behavior.” The No. 21 inner guard had obviously also noticed the No. 81’s doubts and made a decision: “Once the war here is over, we must report this matter to His Majesty in detail so that His Majesty can make a decision personally.”

Having said that, his sharp gaze swept across the deep stone forest ahead, as if it were a tangible object, and the black aura surrounding him rippled slightly:

"Alright, enough of this small talk. I sense... besides our troops, there are other living beings lurking ahead. It seems the battle is about to begin."

The voice of the number 21 guard suddenly turned cold and filled with murderous intent:

"Let us see for ourselves how these rebels from Chernobog annihilate the border army..."

"Is it due to their own meager abilities? Or is it, as Duke Baikal implied, that someone dared to secretly utilize the forbidden power of the 'demon'..."

"Whether it's the mobs of Chernobog or that so-called Reunion Movement that are using this forbidden power... as internal guards, we have only one duty—to completely purify them and eradicate them!"

……

"Boom boom boom!!"

The enormous explosion shattered the silence of the stone forest, and bursts of flame rose suddenly with the shockwave.

Those were Originium mines that the people of Chernobog had buried deep in the rocky forest, and now they were exploding one after another under the feet of the Ursus soldiers!

"Those damn landmines again! It's probably the work of those scum from the Reunion Movement!" The commander's roar was particularly jarring amidst the explosions. "Quick! Release all the Rift Beasts and let them dig up all that damn stuff underground! Take the drones up immediately and scout the surrounding area!"

The commander urgently ordered the entire army to halt. The keepers sprang into action, and a large number of ferocious beasts swarmed out of their cages.

Some of the rift beasts frantically dug through the soil with their sharp claws, trying to dig out the landmines; others were caught off guard and were blown to pieces by the detonated landmines, their screams mingling with the deafening roar of the explosions.

Clearly, after the devastating Originium explosion that destroyed two cities and caused 100,000 casualties, the Ursus Army Group developed numerous countermeasures against Originium explosives.

One method is to train a Rift Beast to be sensitive to Originium reactants or to directly send a Rift Beast to trigger a minefield.

Nowadays, ordinary mine-laying tactics, apart from causing accidental casualties during the initial surprise attack, are no longer a sustained threat to this well-trained legion.

Immediately afterwards, a dense hum of engines filled the air, and a large number of drones took off rapidly like a swarm of disturbed bees.

Meanwhile, the sorcerers in the army had already begun chanting spells. Using drones as a medium, they precisely guided the condensed magical energy to launch a fierce tactical bombardment towards the enemy positions locked by the drones.

At the same time, the Ursus army quickly rearranged its ranks. The soldiers obeyed orders, their heavy shields and sharp spears arranged closely together, rapidly forming a solid steel wall.

This was precisely the advancing formation in which the Ursus Legion could best exert its combat power on open plains. Although the rugged stone forest terrain dispersed some of the troops, the Ursus army as a whole still resembled an unstoppable black torrent, resolutely crushing forward.

The heavy footsteps pounded on the ground, and you could even feel a slight tremor.

Perhaps the Ursus army is not as swift as the Kazimir light cavalry, as ferocious and destructive as the spells of the Letanian sorcerers, and as versatile as the Great Yan army.

However, with the combined strength of the iron will forged in the harsh lands and the glory of militarism, there is no doubt that Ursus's army was once the most disciplined and indestructible military force on the continent of Terra.

It was this strict discipline and unwavering will, combined with the strategy of mobilizing the entire population as soldiers, that enabled them to defeat powerful opponents countless times throughout history.

But can the army of Ursus, now in its twilight years, still maintain such iron discipline? Does the unbreakable will in the hearts of the soldiers remain as strong as ever?

“Bang bang bang bang!!!”

The sharp, piercing sound of gunfire shattered the brief silence without warning! The first rank of Ursus soldiers fell like stalks of wheat cut down by a scythe, many dying before they could even raise their shields.

The gunfire never ceased; the relentless firepower, like the scythe of death, mercilessly reaped lives. The soldiers in the front ranks were almost powerless to resist, often dying instantly from a single bullet.

This sudden and shocking change undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the commander-in-chief! He only knew that the Reunion Movement was good at using landmines and guerrilla warfare, but when did it suddenly acquire such powerful and dense gunfire?

"Damn it! Could it be that the Laterans have gotten involved too?!" The commander roared, "All units, listen up! Immediately use the stone forest as cover! Spread out! Crossbowmen and sorcerers, aim at the positions where the muskets fired and launch a suppressive counterattack! Quickly! Construct defensive lines!"

"Distribute smoke with the drones! Cover the troops and prevent the enemy from locking onto your positions!"

This Ursus commander was, after all, a seasoned veteran with real skills. Although he had no idea why the Chernobog rebels possessed such a large number of muskets, it didn't stop him from immediately deploying his forces according to standard tactics for dealing with Laterano's elite musket units.

In an instant, the Ursus army's fierce charge was forcibly halted. The Rift Beasts that had been released to search for landmines became the most conspicuous targets, being shot down one after another by accurate and dense gunfire, emitting mournful cries.

However, the firing of the Chernobog archers also revealed their positions. The Ursus warlocks, protected by their own ranged units, reacted swiftly, seizing the opportunity and unleashing beams of destructive magic like arrows, whistling towards the exposed firing points.

Many experienced Chernobog musketeers nimbly retreated behind their stone forest cover the instant the spell struck.

However, many new recruits, either due to lack of attention or inexperience, failed to dodge in time and were instantly engulfed by the spell, falling into pools of blood, with a pungent, burnt smell spreading throughout the air.

Meanwhile, Chernobog's counterattack began: magical beams and bullets rained down on Ursus's locating drones, shooting them down one by one. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly spam/advertisements.)

With this interference, the soldiers of Chernobog successfully disrupted the enemy sorcerers' spell targeting, and the battlefield situation became deadlocked for a time.

As the battle raged on, the three inner guards, on whom the commander had placed high hopes, stood motionless. They stood atop a towering boulder in the distance, like three silent black statues, their crimson eyes beneath their masks coldly surveying the chaotic battle below.

“They’re not Lateran…” The number 81 guard’s eyes were sharp, his voice filled with confusion. “They have neither the aura of Sakorta nor the feathered crown of Liberi, they all have Ursus faces… But when did Ursus ever have so many experts in muskets?”

"It really does feel eerie..."

The number 21 guard spoke in a deep voice, the shadow beneath his mask deepening, and continued:

"The spells cast by the opposing warlock were not the violent and chaotic spells of the infected, but standard military spells... I was able to identify at least three spell patterns from Letania, Victoria, and our own Ursus."

"But according to Reunion's intelligence, the spells they possess should be limited to Ursus standard spells and Sarkaz sorcery."

Number 21 paused for a moment, his tone becoming increasingly serious:

"This is all thanks to that legendary captain and those Sarkaz mercenaries. But now, multiple national styles of magic have appeared... Could it be that they have recruited some extraordinary new force or some ruthless character who is proficient in various styles of magic?"

"Wait..." Guard No. 34 suddenly pointed to a corner of the battlefield, his voice urgent, "Look at that person who was just hit by magic! What's that coming out of his wound?"

Chapter 424 Mon3tr's First Battle

Upon hearing the sound, the two immediately focused their attention and looked in that direction, their bodies simultaneously trembling.

They clearly saw that the gunner, who should have been blasted to smithereens by magic, was instead emanating a thick, inky black mist from his hideous wound.

It was this layer of black mist, writhing and coiling like a living thing, that stubbornly blocked the further erosion of the magical energy, allowing him to escape with his life by sheer luck.

"The wound is oozing black mist... It's so similar! Could it be that Duke Baikal's accusations are true..." The voice of the No. 21 inner guard suddenly turned icy, filled with murderous intent, "Behind this rebellion, there really are blasphemous and taboo-breaking cultists at work!"

As warriors who fight against evil their entire lives, every member of the Inner Guard knows the price of this power.

From the moment they voluntarily donned the armor inlaid with demonic fragments, they were destined to fight an eternal battle against the demonic will within them, walking on the edge of the temptation and corruption of power.

That is why they understand better than anyone else what a terrible disaster would be caused if someone completely crossed that inviolable line and fully embraced the gifts of evil.

Faced with these people who trample on taboos, the Inner Guard has only one mission: to completely purify and eradicate these enemies of civilization at all costs!

"Ok?"

Just then, the sharp nerves of Inner Guard No. 81 tensed abruptly, a stinging sensation, as if locked onto by a cold gaze, crept up his spine. Almost instinctively, he spun around and drew his sword to parry!

Clang—Bang!

A piercing clang of metal clashing against metal rang out, accompanied by a heavy impact! A tremendous force surged from the sword, causing the No. 81 inner guard's hands to go numb and his feet to stagger back several steps before he could barely regain his footing.

He glanced down at the slightly trembling black sword, from which wisps of seemingly alive black energy were seeping out.

"What a powerful shot..." The voice of the No. 81 inner guard was tinged with suppressed surprise, his sharp gaze fixed on the distance from which the bullet had come. "From such a great distance, not only could he find my position, but he could also hit me with such precision... He's a rare talent."

"Now that our whereabouts have been exposed, there's no need to hide anymore. Let's move in and eliminate those troublesome elites on the other side first, clearing the way for the Ursus soldiers so they can complete the purification of the criminals more quickly!"

"It was the number 21 guard who said in a deep voice."

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than another deadly streak of light pierced through the air! Another guard reacted swiftly, his black sword flashing out like a viper's tongue, slicing the incoming bullet in mid-air, sparks flying everywhere.

"action!"